One, I’d only met once, about ten years ago. Ten years on, in an inspiring and energizing conversation, I was reminded that the rising waters are not something we can do anything about. All we can do is intentionally decide how we’re gonna respond. Build arks, if you will.

It’s like my dad, a farmer, told our neighbor, a white-collar guy who was freaked out about the 8-feet of water covering the crop Dad had recently seen sprout (circa 1967-ish) — “What are you going to DO, Richard!?” our neighbor implored. “Wait ’til the water goes down and plant it again,” Dad said.

The figurative crops that my coffee guest has harvested over the past decade have taken a whole company and hundreds of employees (and their families) from a harsh reality brought on by torrential rains to relevance and a viable future with some showers still in the forecast, but good shelter for the rainy days and bountiful new crops to harvest.

The second was a friend and former (future?) colleague. Many a flight, meeting and party were shared “back in the day,” and while social media has allowed us to “watch each other’s kids grow up” and “keep in touch,” the voice-on-voice, idea-on-idea interaction was missing. When we connected yesterday, her energy, passion, selflessness and connection reminded me that it’s not just about the difference we get to make — it’s about with whom we get to make it.

Water recedes. Arks last. Staying connected to difference makers is where the magic happens.